The number of cases and fatalities due to viral disease, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), in Pakistan and Afghanistan this year has been of concern both in media accounts and from global health agencies.

With the start of the Muslim holiday, Eid al-Adha, today, the concerns about the spread of CCHF have gone to another level.

Afghanistan Pakistan map/Public domain image- Pahari Sahib

When you think of CCHF, it is commonly considered a tickborne disease; however, people can also contract the serious viral disease through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter.

Animals become infected with CCHF by the bite of infected ticks and the virus remains in their bloodstream for about one week after infection, allowing the tick-animal-tick cycle to continue when another tick bites.

According to an Al Jazeera report, Eid al-Adha commemorates the day when prophet Abraham was going to sacrifice his son but was instructed by God to offer an animal instead. Eid al-Adha in Arabic literally means “festival of the sacrifice”.

So there will be animals slaughtered to celebrate the holiday, increasing the risk to people for CCHF.

The Afghan Ministry of Health has expressed concern saying the the risk of the virus transmission is expected to increase. In Pakistan, health officials have issued preventive measures for those handling the animals.

Pakistani official, Dr Arif Majeed said in order to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission, people should wear gloves and other protective clothing while handling animals or their tissues in endemic areas, notably during slaughtering, butchering and culling procedures in slaughter houses or at home.

He added to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission in the community, people should avoid close physical contact with CCHF-infected people, wear gloves and protective equipment when taking care of ill people and wash hands regularly after caring for or visiting sick people.